Thursday 12 December 2013

Glasgow crash helicopters grounded as tenth person dies after tragic accident

A TENTH person had died following the Glasgow helicopter crash incident with operators now unsure if the type of helicopter involved is safe enough to fly.

 Eurocopter EC135 Type 2 aircraft, glasgow, clutha, bar, crash, police, bond,CRASH: The Police Scotland helicopter that crashed in Glasgow was a Bond-operated Eurocopter EC135 Type 2 aircraft [UNIVERSAL]
Now at with the death tally at 10, Bond have grounded its fleet of 22 EC135 helicopters in the UK after examiners found a defect in the model.
Police Scotland confirmed that a tenth person, Joe Cusker, 59, from Cambuslang, died earlier today at Glasgow Royal Infirmary where had been recovering since the crash on November 29.
Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick said: "It is with great sadness that I can confirm the number of people who died when the helicopter came down on the Clutha Vaults pub has increased to 10.

"Our thoughts are with the families at this difficult time and we will continue to provide support to them, as we have done for all of the bereaved."
The Police Scotland helicopter that crashed into the roof of the bar was a Bond-operated Eurocopter EC135 Type 2 aircraft.
An initial report from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) issued this week said there was "no evidence of major mechanical disruption of either engine" of the Police Scotland helicopter as it returned from an operation in Dalkeith, Midlothian, on the night of the crash.
A statement from Bond Air Services said: "During normal operations yesterday, one of our EC135 fleet has experienced an indication defect that requires further technical investigation.
DEVASTATING: The crash in Glasgow killed nine peopleDEVASTATING: The crash in Glasgow killed nine people [PA]
"Therefore as a precautionary measure we have temporarily suspended service operations whilst we undertake detailed diagnosis. We commenced investigations overnight, are continuing this morning and are in close liaison with Eurocopter regarding this investigation."
One of the helicopters crashed into the Cluth a Pub killing nine people including the pilot and two police officers.
The accident shocked Glasgow, prompting requests for an investigation into the helicopter.
The helicopters are used by air ambulance and police forces throughout the UK. It is understood the defect was found in a helicopter used by the North West Air Ambulance service.
A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: "Bond Air Services advised on Wednesday evening that, as a precautionary measure, it was temporarily suspending flights of its fleet of Eurocopter EC135 helicopters, including Scotland's two air ambulance helicopters.
CHAOS: The crash killed the pilot and two police officersCHAOS: The crash killed the pilot and two police officers [STUART WALLACE]
"The safety of patients and air ambulance staff is the number-one priority and Bond has taken the decision following a reported technical fault on one of the company's EC135s operating outside Scotland.
The helicopter that crashed in Glasgow hit the flat roof of the Clutha pub with a high rate of descent and with low or negligible forward speed, the special bulletin from the AAIB revealed.
The weather was good and the helicopter still had 95 litres of the 400kg of fuel that it had taken off with from Glasgow City Heliport.
The pilot of the helicopter, David Traill, and his two passengers - police officers Kirsty Nelis and Tony Collins - were killed in the crash along with six people inside the pub.

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